Past Texas party chair, superdelegate Slagle opts for Clinton

Published 6:00 pm, Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Superdelegate Bob Slagle of Sherman, former chairman of the Texas Democratic Party, said Thursday he is supporting Hillary Clinton for president and that he's been working to help her Texas campaign.

Slagle had backed New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson before he withdrew from the race. Slagle said he has known Clinton since 1992 and is impressed by her knowledge of issues, including the war in Iraq and international finance.

"I think Obama is a wonderfully inspiring speaker. He's clearly a brilliant person," Slagle said, adding that he hopes whoever finishes second will be committed to helping the Democratic ticket in November.

"They need not to have lemon drops under their lower lips and be pouting," he said.

Texas has 32 superdelegates who are not pledged to any candidate entering the Democrats' national convention. The state will have three other unpledged delegates who will be chosen at the state Democratic convention in June.

Among Texas' superdelegates, 13 have endorsed Clinton and seven have endorsed Obama. Several remain uncommitted.

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SENATE RACE AD

Democratic Senate candidate Rick Noriega is launching his first television advertisement to coincide with Thursday night's Democratic presidential debate.

The ad, titled "Ready to Serve," is being shown in Austin during the debate on CNN and Univision and will air in English and Spanish, his campaign said.

The commercial emphasizes the Houston state lawmaker's military experience and his legislative record on health care and education. Noriega is a lieutenant colonel in the Texas Army National Guard and spent 14 months in Afghanistan.

His main opponent in the Democratic primary is Corpus Christi school teacher Ray McMurrey.

Both want to be the Democrat who faces Republican Sen. John Cornyn, the presumed GOP nominee who faces minor opposition in his primary March 4.

Noriega's campaign wouldn't say how much it is spending on the ad but called it a "significant buy" that would begin in Austin on cable Thursday then air statewide on broadcast stations starting early next week.